Pyrimidinyl acrylic acid derivatives, process for their preparation and their use for the control of phytopathogens

Abstract: Compounds of formula I wherein R₁ is hydrogen, methyl, ethyl or trifluoromethyl, and R₂ is hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, C₁₋₄alkylthio, C₁₋₄alkoxy, or di-C₁₋₄alkylamino, and R₃ is C₁₋₁₀alkyl, C₁₋₁₀haloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aryl-C₁₋₄alkyl, heteroaryl-C₁₋₄alkyl, aryloxy-C₁₋₄alkyl, aryloxyaryl, arylaryl, heteroaryl, aryl-C₁₋₄alkoxyaryl, aryl-C₁₋₄alkoxy-C₁₋₄alkyl, heteroaryloxyaryl, aryloxy-C₁₋₄alkylaryl or aryl substituted by a group selected from -C(CH₃)=N-O-CH₂-aryl, -C(CH₃)=N-O-CH(CH₃)-aryl, -C(CH₃)=N-C₁₋₄alkoxy, -C(CH₃)=N-C₃₋₄alkenyloxy, -C(CH₃)=N-C₃₋₄alkynyloxy, or -CH₂-O-N=C(CH₃)-aryl, wherein each of the aromatic rings may be optionally substituted; the use of such compounds for the control of phytopathogens, compositions for facilitating such use, and the preparation of the compounds of formula I.

Description: This invention relates to novel α-pyrimidinyl acrylic acid derivatives, the synthesis thereof and the use of said compounds for the control of phytopathogens. α-(Pyrid-3-yl)-β-methoxy acrylates are known from EP-A-0 243 012. Said compounds have been proposed as agricultural/horticultural fungicides. These compounds do however not provide satisfactory control of phytopathogenic fungi under all aspects. It has now been found that compounds of formula (Ia) wherein R 2 is hydrogen, methyl or methylthio, R 4 is hydrogen or methyl, and R 5 is hydrogen, phenyl, C 1-4 -alkyl, phenoxymethyl, -(C(CH 3 )=N-OCH 3 , phenoxy, benzyloxy, -C(CH 3 )=N-allyloxy, -C(CH 3 )=N-benzyloxy, wherein the phenyl groups are optionally substituted by one or two substituents independently selected from cyano, methyl, methoxy, nitro or halogen, For example alkyl is methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, tertiary butyl or secondary butyl, and the various isomers of pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl and decyl. Halogen is fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine, with fluorine and chlorine being preferred. Preferred individual compound of formula I are: methyl α-[6-methyl-4-(3-(2-cyanophenoxy)-phenoxy)-5-pyrimidinyl]-β-methoxyacrylate; methyl α-[6-methyl-4-(3-(1-methoximinoethyl)-phenoxy)-5-pyrimidinyl]-β-methoxyacrylate; methyl α-[6-methyl-4-(3-isopropylphenoxy)-5-pyrimidinyl]-β-methoxyacrylate; methyl α-[6-methyl-4-(3-phenylphenoxy)-5-pyrimidinyl]-β-methoxyacrylate; methyl α-[2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-phenylphenoxy)-5-pyrimidinyl]-β-methoxyacrylate; methyl α-[2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-methyl-5-isopropylphenoxy)-5-pyrimidinyl]-β-methoxyacrylate; and methyl α-[6-methyl-4-(3-(2-methylbenzyloxy)-phenoxy)-5-pyrimidinyl]-β-methoxyacrylate. The double bond of the acrylic acid structure in the compounds of formula I may be in E- or Z-form. In this document the E- and Z-forms are identified where meant specifically. In all other cases mixtures of the two isomers are intended. Where E-and Z-isomers are obtained during synthesis they may be separated by known techniques, such as crystallisation, chromatography or destillation. In the described methods of preparation preferably the E-forms are obtained. Compounds of formula (Ia) may be obtained by O-methylation of a compound of formula (IIa) wherein R 2 , R 4 and R 5 are as defined above. The O-methylation can be carried out in a manner known per se for the preparation of 3-methoxyacrylates employing conventional methylation agents. Examples of suitable methylation agents include methyl iodine and dimethyl sulphate. The O-methylation is conveniently carried out in the presence of a base. The reaction temperature will conveniently lie in the range of from 0°C to the boiling point of the reaction mixture, e.g. at about ambient temperature. Inert solvents may be used where desired. Examples of suitable bases include alkaline metal hydroxides such as sodium hydroxide, alkaline metal hydrides such as sodium hydride, alkaline metal alcoholates such as sodium methylate, alkaline metal carbonates or alkaline metal hydrogen carbonate such as potassium carbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate. Examples of suitable inert solvents include aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene and toluene; ethers such as diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran and 1,2-dimethoxyethane; polar solvents such as dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, water, alcohols such as methanol; acetone or a mixture comprising two or more of them. The desired end-product is isolated and purified according to known techniques, for example by evaporation of solvent, chromatography and crystallisation. The compounds of formula (Ia) are basic in nature. They may form salts with sufficiently strong acids such as HCl and HBr. The compounds of formula (IIa) may be obtained by reaction of compounds of formula (IIIa) wherein R 2 , R 4 and R 5 are as defined above and alkyl is C 1-10 alkyl, with methyl formate in the presence of a base. This reaction is essentially a Claisen reaction and may be carried out under the conditions known for such reaction. The reaction (IIIa) → (IIa) may be carried out in an inert solvent. Examples of suitable solvents are described for the O-methylation of the compounds of formula (IIa). Examples of suitable bases are such typically used for a Claisen reaction such as alkaline metal alcoholates, e.g. sodium methylate; alkaline metal hydrides, e.g. sodium hydride; and alkaline metal carbonates, e.g. sodium carbonate or potassium carbonate. The reaction temperature may vary within wide ranges, e.g. from 0°C to the boiling point of the reaction mixture and is preferably at or near ambient temperature. The acetic acid esters of formula (IIIa) may be obtained from compounds of formula (IVa) wherein R 2 and alkyl are as defined above, by reacting it with an alcohol of formula (Va) wherein R 4 and R 5 are as defined above in the presence of a base and an inert solvent. Suitable bases and solvents are as for (IIa → Ia). Compounds of formula (IIIa) wherein R 2 is H may alternatively be obtained by reacting a compound of formula (VIa) wherein alkyl is as defined above, with an alcohol of formula (Va) in the presence of a base and an inert solvent and hydrogenating the obtained intermediate of formula (VIIa) wherein R 4 R 5 and alkyl are as defined above. Hydrogenation is carried out in a manner known per se. Typical procedures would be hydrogenation in the presence of a suitable noble metal catalyst, e.g. palladium/charcoal, or treatment with hydroiodic acid, or treatment with sodium borohydride. The reaction conditions for the first step (VIa + Va → VIIa) are identical to the conditions of (IVa + Va → IIIa). The hydrogenation step (VIIa → IIIa) corresponds to typical reaction conditions known in the art for these types of reactions. Compounds of formula (IV) wherein R 2 is methylthio may also be obtained by reacting a compound of formula (VIIIa) wherein R 6 is methyl and alkyl is as defined above, with a chlorinating agent, such as POCl 3 . The compounds of formula (VIIIa) may in turn be obtained from a starting material of formula (IXa) by esterification, i.e. with an alcohol HO-alkyl in the presence of an acid such as H 2 SO 4 or HCl, and alkylating the obtained intermediate of formula (Xa) wherein R 1 and alkyl are as defined above, in the presence of a base, such as NaOH with an alkylhalogenid of formula (XIa) R 6 -Hal wherein Hal is bromine or chlorine and R 6 is as defined above. Compounds of formula (IIIa) wherein R 2 is H may according to another variant be prepared by desulfurating the intermediate of formula (Xa) in the presence of desulfurating catalyst such as Raney-Nickel and reacting the obtained intermediate of formula (XIIa) with a chlorinating agent, such as POCl 3 . In an alternative process the compounds of formula (IIa) may also be obtained by reacting the compounds of formula (IIIa) with a 1:1-adduct of dimethylformamide and dimethylsulfate in the presence of a strong base, such as t-BuOK and hydrolysing the obtained intermediate of formula (XIIIa) wherein R 2 , R 4 , R 5 are as defined above. The starting materials of formulae IVa, Va, Via, IXa and XIa are known or may be prepared in analogy to known processes. The compounds of formula (Ia) are effective against phytopathogens. Their advantageous fungicidal activity is established by in vivo tests with test concentrations from 0.1 to 500 mg a.i./l against Uromyces appendiculatus on pole beans, against Puccinia triticina on wheat, against Sphaerotheca fuliginea on cucumber, against Erysiphe graminis on wheat and barley, against Podosphaera leucotricha on apple, against Uncinula necator on grape vine, against Leptosphaeria nodorum on wheat, against Cochliobolus sativus and Pyrenophora graminea on barley, against Venturia inaequalis on apple, against Phytophthora infestans on tomato and against Plasmopara viticola on grape vine. Many of the compounds of formula (Ia) have an excellent plant tolerance and a systemic action. The compounds of the invention are therefore indicated for treatment of plant, seeds and soil to combat phytopathogenic fungi, e.g. Basidiomycetes of the order Uredinales (rusts) such as Puccinia spp, Hemileia spp, Uromyces spp; and Ascomycetes of the order Erysiphales (powdery mildew) such as Erysiphe ssp, Podosphaera spp, Uncinula spp, Sphaerotheca spp; as well as Cochliobolus; Pyrenophora spp; Venturia spp; Mycosphaerella spp; Leptosphaeria; Deuteromycetes such as Pyricularia, Pellicularia (Corticium), Botrytis; and Oomycetes such as Phytophthora spp, Plasmopara spp. The compounds of formula (Ia) are particularly effective against powdery mildew and rust, pyrenophora and leptosphaeria fungi, in particular against pathogens of monocotyledoneous plants such as cereals, including wheat and barley. The amount of compound of the invention to be applied, will depend on various factors such as the compound employed, the subject of the treatment (plant, soil, seed), the type of treatment (e.g. spraying, dusting, seed dressing), the purpose of the treatment (prophylactic or therapeutic), the type of fungi to be treated and the application time. In general, satisfactory results are obtained, if the compounds of the invention are applied in an amount of from about 0.0005 to 2.0, preferably about 0.01 to 1 kg/ha, in the case of a plant or soil treatment; e.g. 0.04 to 0.500 kg of active ingredient (a.i.) per ha in field crops such as cereals, or concentrations of 4 to 50 g of a.i. per hl in crops such as fruits, vineyards and vegetables (at an application volume of from 300 to 1000 l/ha - depending on the size of leaf volume of the crop - which is equivalent to an application rate of approximately 30-500 g/ha). The treatment can, if desired, be repeated, e.g. at intervals of 8 to 30 days. Where the compounds of the invention are used for seed treatment, satisfactory results are in general obtained, if the compounds are used in an amount of from about 0.05 to 0.5, preferably about 0.1 to 0.3 g/kg seeds. The term soil as used herein is intended to embrace any conventional growing medium, whether natural or artificial. The compounds of the invention may be used in a great number of crops, such as soybean, coffee, ornamental (i.a. pelargonium, roses), vegetables (e.g. peas, cucumber, celery, tomato and bean plants), sugarbeet, sugarcane, cotton, flax, maize (corn), vineyards, pomes and stone fruits (e.g. apple, pears, prunes) and in cereals (e.g. wheat, oats, barley, rice). The invention also provides fungicidal compositions, comprising as a fungicide a compound of formula (Ia) in association with a agriculturally acceptable diluent (hereinafter diluent). They are obtained in conventional manner, e.g. by mixing a compound of the invention with a diluent and optionally additional ingredients, such as surfactants. The term diluents as used herein means liquid or solid agriculturally acceptable material, which may be added to the active agent to bring it in an easier or better applicable form, resp. to dilute the active agent to a usable or desirable strength of activity. Examples of such diluents are talc, kaolin, diatomaceous earth, xylene or water. Especially formulations used in spray form, such as water dispersible concentrates or wettable powders, may contain surfactants such as wetting and dispersing agent, e.g. the condensation product of formaldehyde with naphthalene sulphonate, an alkylarylsulphonate, a lignin sulphonate, a fatty alkyl sulphate, an ethoxylated alkylphenol and an ethoxylated fatty alcohol. In general, the formulations include from 0.01 to 90% by weight of active agent, from 0 to 20% agriculturally acceptable surfactant and from 10 to 99.99% diluent(s). Concentrated forms of composition, e.g. emulsion concentrates, contain in general from about 2 to 90%, preferably from between 5 and 70% by weight of active agent. Application forms of formulation contain in general from 0.0005 to 10% by weight of a compound of the invention as active agent typical spray-suspensions may, for example, contain from 0.0005 to 0.05, e.g. 0.0001 or 0.005% by weight of active agent. In addition to the usual diluents and surfactants, the compositions of the invention may comprise further additives with special purposes, e.g. stabilisers, desactivators (for solid formulations or carriers with an active surface), agents for improving the adhesion to plants, corrosion inhibitors, anti-foaming agents and colorants. Moreover, further fungicides with similar or complementary fungicidal activity, e.g. sulphur, chlorothalonil, euparen; a guanidine fungicide such as guazatine; dithiocarbamates such as mancozeb, maneb, zineb, propineb; trichloromethane sulphenylphthalimides and analogues such as captan, captafol and folpet; benzimidazoles such as carbendazim, benomyl; azoles such as cyproconazole, flusilazole, flutriafol, hexaconazole, propiconazole, tebuconazole, epoxiconazole, tritinconazole, prochloraz; morpholines such as fenpropimorph, fenpropidine, or other beneficially-acting materials, such as cymoxanil, oxadixyl, metalaxyl, or insecticides may be present in the formulation. Examples of plant fungicide formulations are as follows: a. Wettable Powder Formulation 10 Parts of a compound of formula (Ia) are mixed and milled with 4 parts of synthetic fine silica, 3 parts of sodium lauryl sulphate, 7 part of sodium lignin sulphonate and 66 parts of finely divided kaolin and 10 parts of diatomaceous earth until the mean particle size is about 5 micron. The resulting wettable powder is diluted with water before use to a spray liquor which may be applied for foliar spray as well a by root drench application. b. Granules Onto 9.45 parts by weight of quartz sand in a tumbler mixer are sprayed 0.5 parts by weight of a binder (non-ionic tenside) and the whole thoroughly mixed. 5 parts by weight of a compound of formula (Ia) invention are then added and thorough mixing continued to obtain a granulate formulation with a particle size in the range of from 0.3 to 0.7 mm (where required, the granules may be dried by the addition of 1 to 5% by weight of talcum). The granules may be applied by incorporation into the soil adjacent to the plants to be treated. c. Emulsion Concentrate 10 Parts by weight of a compound of formula (Ia) are mixed with 10 parts of weight of an emulsifier and 80 parts by weight of xylene. The thus obtained concentrate is diluted with water to form an emulsion of the desired concentration, prior to application. d. Seed Dressing 45 Parts of a compound of formula (Ia) are mixed with 1.5 parts of diamyl phenoldecaglycolether ethylene oxide adduct, 2 parts of spindle oil, 51 parts of fine talcum and 0.5 parts of colorant rhodanin B. The mixture is ground in a contraplex mill at 10,000 rpm until an average particle size of less than 20 microns is obtained. The resulting dry powder has good adherence and may be applied to seeds, e.g. by mixing for 2 to 5 minutes in a slowly turning vessel. The following examples further illustrate the present invention. All temperatures are in centigrade. Rf values are obtained by thin layer chromatography on silica gel, unless otherwise specified. Example 2 Methyl α-[6-methyl-4-(3-phenylphenoxy)-5-pyrimidinyl]-β-methoxyacrylate a) Methyl α -[6-methyl-2-chloro-4-(3-phenylphenoxy)-5-pyrimidinyl]-acetate Methyl α-[6-methyl-2,4-dichloro-5-pyrimidinyl]-acetate (4 g, 18 mmol), 3-hydroxybiphenyl (3 g, 18 mmol) and potassium carbonate (11 g, 80 mmol) in dimethylformamide (50 ml) are stirred at +80°C for 2 hours. The mixture is diluted with ether and washed with brine. Drying over MgSO 4 and evaporation of the solvent gives pure methyl α-[6-methyl-2-chloro-4-(3-phenylphenoxy)-5-pyrimidinyl]-acetate. 1 H (CDCl 3 : 7.65 - 7.05 (m, 9H); 3.82 (s, 2H); 3.76 (s, 3H); 2.52 (s, 3H). b) Methyl α -[6-methyl-4-(3-phenylphenoxy)-5-pyrimidinyl]-acetate Methyl α-[6-methyl-2-chloro-4-(3-phenylphenoxy)-5-pyrimidinyl]-acetate is dissolved in methanol/triethylamine (50 ml/10 ml) and hydrogenated over Pd on charcoal (0.2 g). The reaction mixture is evaporated. Addition of potassium carbonate, ether extraction and chromatography on silica gel gives pure methyl α-[6-methyl-4-(3-phenylphenoxy)-5-pyrimidinyl]-acetate. 1 H(CDCl 3 : 8.58 (s, 1H); 7.65 - 7.05 (m, 9H); 3.86 (s, 2H); 3.77 (s, 3H); 2.55 (s, 3H). c) Methyl α-[2-methyl-4-(3-phenylphenoxy)-5-pyrimidinyl]-acetate (8 mmol) are dissolved in methyl formate (10 ml) and added to a suspension of NaH (0.6 g, 80% in oil, 20 mmol) in 1,2-dimethoxyethane at room temperature. After 16 hours methyl iodine (2.5 ml, 40 mmol) is added with cooling.After further 2 hours the reaction mixture is diluted with ether and washed with brine. Drying and chromatography on silicagel (eluent: hexane/ethylacetate 1:1) gives the pure methyl α-[6-methyl-4-(3-phenylphenoxy)-5-pyrimidinyl]-β-methoxyacrylate as an oil. Example 3 Methyl α-[6-methyl-4-(3-phenylphenoxy)-5-pyrimidinyl]-β-methoxyacrylate a) (4-Hydroxy-2-mercapto-6-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl)-acetic acid Thiourea (80 g, 1.05 mol) and dimethyl acetylsuccinate (188 g, 1.0 mol) are added at room temperature to a solution of sodium (46 g, 2.0 mol) in methanol (800 ml). The reaction mixture is refluxed for 14 hours. The crystalline precipitate is filtered and added with stirring to a concentrated aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid (250 ml). The resulting colorless crystalline precipitate is filtered, washed with methanol and dried at high vacuum to give 4-hydroxy-2-mercapto-6-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl acetic acid (190 g, 95%). 1 H-NMR (DMSO) : 12.4 (s, 1H); 12.3 (s, 1H); 3.4 (s, 2H); 2.1 (s, 3H). b) Methyl (4-hydroxy-2-mercapto-6-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl)-acetate A solution of (4-hydroxy-2-mercapto-6-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl)-acetic acid (190 g, 0.95 mol) and concentrated sulfuric acid (50 ml) in methanol (1.5 1) is refluxed for 18 hours. The suspension is cooled and filtered to give methyl(4-hydroxy-2-mercapto-6-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl)-acetate (160 g, 79%). 1 H-NMR (DMSO) : 12.4 (s, 1H); 12.2 (s, 1H); 3.6 (s, 3H); 3.4 (s, 2H), 2.1 (s, 3H) c) Methyl(4-hydroxy-6-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl)-acetate A suspension of methyl (4-hydroxy-2-mercapto-6-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl)-acetate (160 g, 0.75 mol) and Raney-Nickel in water (1.51) is refluxed for 16 hours. The reaction mixture is filtered and the filtrate concentrated under reduced pressure to 1/10 of the original volume. Filtration of the precipitate and drying gives methyl(4-hydroxy-6-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl)-acetate in form of colorless crystals (116 g, 85%). 1 H-NMR (DMSO) : 12.4 (s, 1H); 8.0 (s, 1H); 3.6 (s, 3H); 3.4 (s, 2H); 2.1 (s, 3H). d) Methyl (4-chloro-6-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl)-acetate A suspension of methyl (4-hydroxy-6-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl)-acetate (116 g, 0.64 mol) in toluene (200ml) and phosphorous oxychloride (94 ml, 1.0 mol) is refluxed for three hours. The solvent is removed under reduced pressure and the resulting oil is poured onto crushed ice with stirring. The pH is adjusted to 9 by adding potassium carbonate. Extraction with ether, drying and destillation under high vacuum gives methyl(4-chloro-6-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl)-acetate as a yellowish oil (105 g, 82%). b.p./1 torr 88-91°C. e) Methyl [6-methyl-4-(3-phenylphenoxy)-5-pyrimidinyl]acetate Methyl α-(4-chloro-6-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl)-acetate (130 g, 0.65 mol), m-hydroxybiphenyl (111 g, 0.65 mol) and potassium carbonate (179 g, 1.3 mol) in dimethylformamide (150 ml) are stirred at 110°C for 1 hour. Water is added (300 ml) and the crystalline product is filtered and dried to give 175 g (81%) of methyl [6-methyl-4-(3-phenylphenoxy)-5-pyrimidinyl]-acetate having a m.p. of 113-115°C. f) Methyl α-[6-methyl-4-(3-phenylphenoxy)-5-pyrimidinyl]- β -dimethylaminoacrylate Methyl [6-methyl-4-(3-phenylphenoxy)-5-pyrimidinyl]-acetate (60 g, 0.18 mol) is added in one portion to a solution of t-BuOK (60 g, 0.53 mol) in 1,2-dimethoxyethane (0.51) at -40°C. After 1 hour dimethylformamide-dimethyl sulfate (1:1 adduct, 120 ml) is added at -50°C. The reaction mixture is allowed to warm to room temperature to give a yellow suspension. Addition of ether, washing repeatedly with brine and drying gives the crude methyl α-[4-methyl-6-(3-phenylphenoxy)-5-pyrimidinyl]-β-dimethylaminoacrylate (67 g, 95%) as an oil. 1 H-NMR (CDCl 3 ): 8.58 (s. 1H); 7.73 (s, 1H); 7.62-7.03 (m, 9H); 3.68 (s, 3H); 2.87 (s, 6H); 2.44 (s, 3H). g) Methyl α-[6-methyl-4-(3-phenylphenoxy)-5-pyrimidinyl]-β-dimethylaminoacrylate (60 g, 0.15 mol) is dissolved in diethylether (300 ml) and a solution of p-toluene sulfonic acid (44 g, 0.23 mol) in water (200 ml) is added at room temperature with stirring. After 16 hours the mixture is partially neutralized by adding solid potassium bicarbonate (28 g). Extraction of the product with diethylether, drying of the organic phase (MgSO 4 ) and evaporation of the solvent gives the crude enol (52 g, 93%). The product is dissolved in dimethylformamide (100 ml) and potassium carbonate (33 g, 0.24 mol) and dimethyl sulfate (18.9 g, 0.15 mol) is added with cooling. After stirring the reaction mixture at room temperature for 3 hours, diethylether is added and the mixture is washed repeatedly with bring. Drying and chromatography on silicagel (eluant: hexane/ethyl acetate 1:1) gives the pure methyl α-[6-methyl-4(3-phenylphenoxy)-5-pyrimidinyl]-β-methoxyacrylate as a yellowing oil (46 g, 85%). 1 H-NMR (CDCl 3 ): 8.60 (s, 1H); 7.66 (s, 1H); 7.60-7.02 (m, 9H); 3.92 (s, 3H); 2.42 (s, 3H). Example 4 Methyl (4-chlor-2,6-dimethyl-5-pyrimidinyl)-acetate a) (2,6-Dimethyl-4-hydroxy-5-pyrimidinyl)-acetic acid Dimethyl acetylsuccinate (188 g, 1 mol) is dissolved in sodiummethylate/methanol (1.1 mol in 500 ml) and added within 30 minutes to a solution of acetamidine hydrochloride (104 g, 1.1 mol) at 60°C with stirring. After refluxing the mixture for 14 hours, the precipitated salt is removed by filtration and the filtrate is evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure. The resulting solid is suspended in acetone, filtered and dried to give (2,6-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-5-pyrimidinyl) acetic acid crystalline product (170 g, 93%). 1 H-NMR (DMSO ): 12.3 (s, 1H); 3.2 (s, 2H); 2.2 (s, 3H); 2.1 (s, 3H). b) Methyl (4-hydroxy-2, 6-dimethyl-5-pyrimidinyl)-acetate 4-Hydroxy-2,6-dimethyl-5-pyrimidinyl)-acetic acid (170 g, 0.93 mol) is suspended in a saturated solution of hydrochloric acid in methanol (500ml). The mixture is refluxed for 16 hours. The volume of the reaction mixture is reduced to about 250 ml by evaporating the solvent under reduced pressure. Filtration and evaporation of the filtrate gives methyl (4-hydroxy-2,6-dimethyl-5-pyrimidinyl)-acetate (115 g, 63%) as a colorless crystalline solid. 1 H-NMR (DMSO) : 12.3 (s, 1H); 3.7 (s, 3H); 3.6 (s, 2H); 2.6 (s, 3H); 2.4 (s, 3H. c) A suspension of methyl (4-hydroxy-2,6-dimethyl-5-pyrimidinyl)-acetate (0.64 mol) in toluene (200 ml) and phosphorous oxychloride (94 ml, 1.0 mol) is refluxed for three hours. The solvent is removed under reduced pressure and the resulting oil is poured onto crushed ice with stirring. The pH is adjusted to 9 by adding potassium carbonate. Extraction with ether, drying and destillation under high vacuum gives methyl (4-chloro-2,6-dimethyl-5-pyrimidinyl)-acetate as a solid with a m.p. of 53-54°C in a yield of 80%. Example 5 Methyl(4-chloro-6-methyl-2-methylmercapto-5-pyrimidinyl)-acetate a) Methyl(4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2-methylmercapto-5-pyrimidinyl)-acetate Methyl (4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2-mercapto-5-pyrimidinyl)-acetate (40 g, 0.19 mol) is dissolved in an aqueous solution of NaOH (8 g in 400 ml H 2 O). Methyl iodide (29.5 g, 0.2mol) is added and the mixture is stirred at room temperature for 4 hours. Filtration and drying at high vacuum gives methyl (4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2-methylmercapto-5-pyrimidinyl)-acetate (25.4 g, 60%) as a crystalline solid, having a m.p. of 200°C. b) Methyl (4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2-methylmercapto-5-pyrimidinyl)-acetate (4.0 g, 17 mmol) is heated in a mixture of phosphoroxychloride (40 ml) and N,N-diethylaniline (5.5 ml) for 2 hours at 100°C. The excess phosphoroxychloride was removed by evaporation under vacuum and the residue poured into ice-water. Extraction with ethyl acetate, drying and filtration over silicagel gives methyl (4-chloro-6-methyl-2-methylmercapto-5-pyrimidinyl)-acetate as a crystalline solid (3.1 g, 72%), having a m.p. of 88°C. The compounds of the following tables are obtained in analogous manner: Example A: Activity against Powdery Mildew Sphaerotheca fuliginea: Plants of Cucumis sativus (cucumber), 7 days old (cotyledon stage), are sprayed to near run off with a suspension containing 100 mg/l of active ingredient. The deposit is then allowed to dry. One day later, the treated plants are inoculated with a spore suspension containing 1x10 5 / ml of freshly collected conidia of Sphaerotheca fuliginea and then incubated in the greenhouse for 7 days at +24°C and 60% r.h. The efficacy of the test compounds is determined by comparing the degree of fungal attack with that on untreated, similarly inoculated check plants. In this test compounds 1.03; 1.13; 1.45; 146; 1.47; 1.48; 1.49; 1.50; 1.58; 1.59; 1.61; 1.87; 1.90; 1.91; 1.93; 1.122; 2.03; 2.45; 2.48; 2.58; 2.73; 2.88; 2.90; 2.91; 2.93; 3.03; 3.05 and 3.48 showed an efficacy of more than 90%. Similar methods are used to test the compounds against the following pathogens: Podosphaera leucotricha on apple, Erysiphe graminis on wheat and barley (dry inoculation), Uncinula necator on grape. Example B : Activity against Rust, Scab, Pyrenophora, Leptosphaeria Uromyces appendiculatus: Plants of Phaseolus vulgaris (pole bean), 14 days old (2 leaves stage), are sprayed to near run off with a suspension containing 100 mg/l of the active ingredient. The deposit is then allowed to dry. One day later, the treated plants are inoculated with a spore suspension containing 1x10 5 / ml of freshly collected spores of Uromyces appendiculatus. Incubation is performed for 3 days in a high humidity cabinet at +23°C and >95% r.h. and thereafter during 10 days at +24°C and 60% r.h. The efficacy the compounds is determined by comparing the degree of fungal attack with that on untreated, similarly inoculated check plants, In this test compounds 1.03; 1.13; 1.45; 1.46; 1.47; 1.48; 1.49; 1.50; 1.58; 1.59; 1.61; 1.87; 1.90; 1.91; 1.93; 1.122; 2.03; 2.45; 2.48; 2.58; 2.73; 2.88; 2.90; 2.91; 2.93; 3.03; 3.05 and 3.48 showed an efficacy of at least 90 %. Similar methods are used to test the compounds against the following pathogens: Puccinia triticina on wheat (plants 10 days old), Pyrenophora graminea on barley, Leptosphaeria nodorum on wheat, Venturia inaequalis on apple (plants 21 days old; the spore suspension contains 1 % malt). Example C: Activity against Downy Mildew Plants of Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato) with 6 leaves, are sprayed to near run off with a spray suspension containing 100 mg/l of the active ingredient. The deposit is then allowed to dry. 1 day later, the treated plants are inoculated with a spore suspension containing 1x10 5 / ml of freshly collected sporangia of Phytophthora infestans and then incubated for 7 days in a high humidity cabinet at +18°C and >95 % r.h. The efficacy of the test compounds is determined by comparing the degree of fungal attack with that on untreated, similarly inoculated check plants. In this test compounds 1.03, 1.13, 1.48, 1.58 and 1.61 should efficacy of at least 90 %. A similar method is used to test the compounds against Plasmopara viticola on grape vine. Example D : Activity after Seed Treatment The compounds of the invention may also be used for seed treatment. The advantageous fungicidal activity is established by in vitro tests with the following pathogens: Pyrenophora graminea, Ustilago nuda, Gerlachia nivalis, Leptoshpaeria nodorum. Autoclaved wheat seeds are inoculated with spores or mycelium of the pathogens and coated with different concentrations of the test compounds resulting in dosages of 50 g a.i./100kg seed. The treated seeds are then placed on agar plates and the pathogens allowed to grow for 3 - 8 days at +24°C in the dark. The efficacy of the test compounds is determined by comparing the degree of fungal growth emerging from treated and untreated inoculated seeds. To evaluate the crop plant tolerance of the compounds, healthy seeds of wheat and barley are coated with the dosages mentioned above. The seeds are then allowed to germinate in petri dishes on moist filter paper in high humidity at +18°C for 10 days. Plant damage is recorded, comparing the growth of treated and untreated seedlings. In this test compounds of formula I showed an efficacy of at least 90 % against Pyrenophora graminea.

Claims: A compound of formula (Ia) wherein R 2 is hydrogen, methyl or methylthio, R 4 is hydrogen or methyl, and R 5 is hydrogen, phenyl, C 1-4 -alkyl, phenoxymethyl, -(C(CH 3 )=N-OCH 3 , phenoxy, benzyloxy, -C(CH 3 )=N-allyloxy, -C(CH 3 )=N-benzyloxy, wherein the phenyl groups are optionally substituted by one or two substituents independently selected from cyano, methyl, methoxy, nitro or halogen. A compound of formula la, according to claim 1, in which R 2 , R 4 and R 5 have the following representations: Method of combatting phytopathogenic fungi comprising applying to the fungi or their habitat a fungicidally effective amount of a compound of formula Ia according to claim 1. Fungicidal composition comprising a compound of formula Ia stated in claim 1 and a agriculturally acceptable diluent. Process of preparing a compound of formula Ia according to claim 1, which comprises O-methylating a compound of formula IIa wherein R 2 , R 4 and R 5 are defined as in claim 1.

Inventors: CRAIG GERALD WAYNE, EBERLE MARTIN, SCHAUB FRITZ, CRAIG, GERALD WAYNE, EBERLE, MARTIN, SCHAUB, FRITZ
Applicants: BAYER AG, BAYER AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Application year: 1994
Main classification: C07D239
IPC codes: C07D401, C07D239, A01N43